Virginia struggles to get running game and playmakers involved

Just before the start of the football season, discussions about getting the running game back in gear were all the rage in Charlottesville. It was a topic that made Virginia's expected standouts' pulses race.

Kevin Parks gushed about making U.Va.'s running backs a point of pride again. Taquan Mizzell went so far as to aspire to have a freshman season like the one Miami's Duke Johnson had last season. David Watford mentioned using the ground attack under new offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild as the catalyst for a balanced offense.

U.Va. coach Mike London said after last Saturday's 59-10 home loss to No. 2 Oregon there would be some running game evaluations during the Cavaliers' off week. With U.Va. (1-1) tied for 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 94th in the nation out of 123 Football Bowl Subdivision programs in rushing offense, there's a lot of work to be done.

"We want to take the time necessary to get us straight, to get us together, to get us to improve our team for what we do and how we do it," said London on Wednesday regarding the focus of his team's off week. "We want to take the time to make sure that we are examining and exploring all of the opportunities for those guys that can run the ball — whether it's including our quarterback more, or whether it's doing some other things with personnel groupings."

After finishing last season 96th in the nation in rushing offense (128.5) under former offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, going backward in terms of rushing yardage production per game wasn't part of the plan when Fairchild was brought in. Of course, neither was taking a big step back in turnover margin.

Last season, U.Va. was last in the ACC and 110th in the nation in turnover margin (minus-1.17 per game). U.Va., which doesn't play again until Sept. 21 when it hosts Virginia Military Institute, is still last in the ACC this season in the category (minus-2.5 per game), and 120th in the nation.

Watford had three interceptions and a lost fumble against Oregon, all of which the Ducks turned into touchdowns. He has a four-to-one interception-to-touchdown ratio in the first two games.

"I just have to keep the turnovers to a minimum," said Watford, a Hampton High graduate, after the Oregon game. "I can't turn the ball over, just point blank."

On Wednesday, London was less critical of Watford's play.

"David's done a really nice job of understanding the fact that he knows that he has to protect the football," London said. "We have to protect the football and that as he plays, so goes the team, as I said before. He came out and said he took the blame for the loss, but it's not just on him. There are a lot of things we can look at, a lot of things we can improve upon."

Installing a new offense takes time, especially with three new starters on the offensive line and new starters in the backfield. It's not a two-game process, but U.Va. got a good sense in games against Brigham Young and Oregon what's it's missing.

"I think it's small things we'll see," said U.Va. tight end Jake McGee, who leads the team with 11 catches for 62 yards. "We have two games of tape against two pretty good defenses that we can see what our strengths are and what we need to improve on to improve and make strides as a team."

While Watford's mobility has been considered one of his biggest assets, he hasn't used his legs much to gain yards. Both BYU and Oregon were able to bottle him up on the rare occasion he escaped the pocket.

Prior to the season, it was suggested by media members that the pistol formation could be advantageous for a player with Watford's skills. Fairchild and running backs coach Larry Lewis, who worked with the pistol as an assistant coach at Nevada, both expressed interest in discussions about the pistol, but neither one ever confirmed it would be employed along with U.Va.'s primarily pro-style plans.

U.Va. could explore more pistol looks to give defenses something to ponder regarding Watford as a runner or a thrower. U.Va. might also think about using more two-tailback sets, combining Parks (39 carries for 125 yards; 3.2 yards per carry), Mizzell (13 carries for 30 yards) and Khalek Shepherd (nine carries for 64 yards) to get more big-play potential on the field.

Getting the ball more frequently into the hands of players that can make a difference isn't a concept that's lost on Watford. Darius Jennings, Tim Smith and Dominique Terrell, who are U.Va.'s top three wide receiver targets, have a combined 18 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

"I feel like we have a lot of playmakers," Watford said. "I have to get the ball to more guys and let them just make plays with the ball. That's the main thing. I have to be able to just spread the ball out and get it to my receivers and let them do what they do."

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Admirably and quite inaccurately, David Watford shouldered the blame. One touchdown in 16 possessions? Four turnovers and no downfield passing game? Anemic rushing for the second time in as many games?

David Watford admits he's mentally put himself in Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota's shoes. As a quarterback, it's hard not to envision what you might be able to do in an offense as frenetic as Oregon's.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — By the time No. 2 Oregon was done dismantling Virginia 59-10 on Saturday, there was a sense U.Va. had enough mistakes to review and inefficiencies to correct to keep them busy for longer than just the upcoming off week.

As trainers carted Jerry Ugokwe off the Unitas Stadium field last November, William and Mary football coach Jimmye Laycock couldn't avoid the thought: His team's entire starting offensive line, a group with so much promise and youth, was wiped out by injury.

Robbie Babb posted his third and fourth victories of the season with a clean sweep of twin 30-lap Modified races, the featured events of Saturday evening’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program at Langley Speedway.